Transmission acting like its in limp mode

Hey group I'm new to this but wanted to test it out. I was rock crawling with my yota yesterday while I was trying to make it up a rock face I would get what seemed like no power to the wheels. I was in diff lock, 4lo, and low gear and couldn't even get the tires to spin. It would just keep bogging. Also from a dead stop it has been acting like there is a torque converter on it lately, it slams into gear around 1500 rpm instead of staying in gear. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

Please clarify "it slams into gear around 1500 rpm instead of staying in gear" Do you mean at 1500 rpm it shifts hard into an upper gear? lower gear? Need more info here.

 

Mmmmm that's wierd when was the last time you. Changed the fluids

 

^^^this

 

@ Bamatoy, it almost seems like when i come to a complete stop it slips into neutral. Then when i press the gas its slips back into drive at around 1500 rpm's. Its an intermittent fault, but it gets annoying. I got a fault light once and it said sticky "D" solenoid but the possible fixes were change the transmission oil, so i did about a month ago. @ Wildlandtaco a month ago is when i changed the oil. and it was till when it barely came out of the check plug and i stopped.

 

id double check your oil level then go from there. Also heard there is a ball valve that can "stick" and will cause a slipping symptom.

 

@ tostidos where is this ball valve that sticks. @ whippersnapper while i was in the trail i shut it off for 10 minutes and disconnected the negative terminal to reset the computer, but i never ran into another big rock formation to see if was still not spinning the tires.

 

i was just looking around on the forum and saw another guy had an issue with his transmission due to a volant CAI. could this possibly be an issue also?

 

I wish i knew, I have a friend that mentioned this ball valve as he used to work in a transmission shop. Alot of shady shop will tell you you need a rebuild when this valve is sticking. I have a manual. I know it exists I wish i could point you in the right direction.

 

I would suggest checking the basics. Have the computer actually checked for codes, check your fluid level and condition, and check for loose components and inspect your shift linkage for looseness. All those are easy checks that shouldnt cost you any money, and will help narrow down what is going on.

 

I was searching on the internet for a maintenance schedule for the 2012 tacoma, never mention an AT fluid change at all, not even in "special driving conditions". Just say to check the fluid level, but doesn't say "change or replace". Just say replace for the MT.

Do Toyota recommend (and put as maintenance) an AT fluid change? Have anyone ever check on the owner's manual?

 

60k miles........the auto's have a sealed transmisson, no dipstick to check level

 

You say that the owners manual sets 60k miles level check, or AT fluid change?

I found level check as maintenance, but not "Change the AT transmission fluid". And for a fluid change, I think 60k is too high, I always have seen 30k, but don't know about toyotas at all. Please clarify...